HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2447 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 681
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul J. Donato
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to political designations.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Paul J. Donato | 35th Middlesex | 1/19/2023 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2447 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 681
By Representative Donato of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 681) of Paul J. Donato relative to political designations. Election Laws. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 781 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to political designations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 50 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Political designation” and replacing with the following:-
“Political designation” shall apply to any designation required in section 8 of chapter 53, expressed in not more than three words, which a candidate for nomination under section 6 of chapter 53 represents, and to any designation expressed in not more than three words to qualify a political party under this section, filed by five hundred registered voters with the secretary of state on a form provided by him or her, requesting that such voters, and any others wishing to do so, may change their registration to such designation, provided however, that the designation “Independent” shall not be used. Certificates showing that each of the signers of said request is a registered voter at the stated address, signed by the city or town clerk, shall accompany the petition. Any such request filed before December first in the year of a biennial state election shall not be effective until said December first. If, after the expiration of two years from the date the political designation is approved, there are fewer than one quarter of one percent of the total number of registered voters enrolled in the designation, it shall be dissolved and any such voters enrolled shall be registered as “unenrolled.”
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.